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B.U. Unanimous Pick to Win American East...Again

from press releases

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Boston University tops the 2010 America East Women's Lacrosse Preseason Poll once again and received all six possible first-place votes. Head coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams. The Terriers, winners of five straight league titles, earned 36 points to distance themselves from second-place University of New Hampshire, which received 29 votes.

The final first-place vote went to University of Vermont, which finished third in the poll with 23 points, tied with University at Albany. UMBC placed fifth with 19 points, while Stony Brook University and Binghamton University round out the seven-team poll with 10 and seven points, respectively.

The top four teams in the conference will advance to the America East Championship with the winner of the tournament receiving an automatic bid to the NCAA Women's Lacrosse Championship. The league tournament, held May 6 and 8, will be hosted by the top seed.

Despite the loss of two-time player of the year Sarah Dalton, the #12 nationally-ranked Terriers (15-4 overall record, 6-0 America East record in 2009) still return the top scoring unit in the conference, garnering national attention. Senior Traci Landy, the 2007 Rookie of the Year, is the league's top returning goal-scorer, finishing 2009 with 56 goals (2.95 gpg). Classmate McKinley Curro, the lone first-team all-conference member returning for the Terriers, totaled the most points (71) of any returning player in America East on 40 goals and 31 assists, putting her in the top 10 in all three of those categories last year. Landy and Curro will have feeds from seniors Xan Weitzel and Erica Baumgartner, both leading the league last year with 39 assists apiece. Second-team all-conference senior goalkeeper Rachel Klein adds to an experienced class of Terriers which is looking to graduate with an America East Championship title in each of its four years.

New Hampshire (12-7, 4-2), ranked #20 in the preseason media poll, will have to lean on senior attack Shaunna Kaplan who ranked 10th with 2.84 points per game last year (29-25--54). The sophomore midfielder trio of Haley Rausch (17-6--23), Kate Keagins (16-0--16) and Ilana Cohen (11-4--15) will also be asked to step up on the offensive end to fill the void left by the graduation of Sarah Von Bargen and Michaela Hardy. On the defensive end, junior midfielder Allie Duclos finished 2009 among conference leaders in ground balls, draw controls and caused turnovers and should be a leader again in 2010. First-year Head Coach Michael Daly will be trying to guide the Wildcats to their first tournament title since 2004.

Vermont (9-8, 3-3) can claim the past two rookies of the year in junior midfielder Megan MacDonald and sophomore midfielder Allison Pfohl, players the team can build around after losing just two starters from last year. As a rookie last year, Pfohl proved to be a goal-scorer, tying for the team lead with 33 goals and ranking 10th in the conference in goals per game (2.06). MacDonald and senior Sara Buxton combined for 50 goals and 66 points a year ago, while senior defense Jessie Phillips is the top returner with 13 caused turnovers last year in addition to 16 ground balls in 17 starts.

As the two seed, Albany (9-8, 4-2) fell to third-seeded UNH in the America East Championship semifinals last year and returns most of its core group of players hoping to advance further this year. Six of the Great Danes' top seven offensive weapons last year return, including senior Kayla Best and juniors Mel Rorie and Jodi Battaglia who all ranked in the conference's top 10 for goals per game. Albany will have to find a replacement for the graduated goalkeeper Katie Neer. Senior Ashley Ross, an all-conference field hockey netminder, saw some time in net last season and seems to be the obvious choice.

UMBC (9-8, 3-3) is the second America East team to make a coaching move during the off season, as U.S. Team-alum Kelly Berger was promoted from assistant to her first head coaching job. Berger and Retrievers will get their feet wet early. UMBC makes the trip down to Florida to face new Division I program Jacksonville on February 6. First-team goalkeeper Kate Quick, a senior, will anchor the defense, while junior midfielder Amanda Pappas and sophomore attack Emily Coady are back after compiling 37 and 35 points, respectively.

Stony Brook (4-12, 1-5) lost six starters from 2009 including former player of the year Kaitlin Leggio. Junior attack Samatha Djaha is the top returning goal-scorer, finding the back of the net 23 times last season. Djaha is also the top returner in ground balls (37), draw controls (31) and caused turnovers (11). She'll have help on the offensive end from junior midfielder Melissa Cook who finished last season with 33 points on 18 goals and 15 assists.

The Bearcats (3-13, 0-6) relied on young talent last year and hope they return even better this season with more experience. Binghamton's top four scorers last year comprised of three sophomores and all-rookie selection Liz Zuern (23-6--29). Juniors Beth Moore (27 goals), Ali Castiglie (23-10--33) and Lisa Illig (17-5--22) are all capable goal scorers, while second-team all-conference defense Siobhan Menz, another junior, is among the league's best in ground balls (32) and caused turnovers (17).

2010 Preseason Poll